WOOD RIVER, Neb. (AP) — A herd of 42 rare, purebred bison will arrive at the 4,500-acre Crane Trust along the Platte River in central Nebraska next week, wrapping up a more than two-year effort to reintroduce bison to their original home on native Nebraska prairie.

The bison will arrive the afternoon of Jan. 17. The event will be held east of The Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center and include a Native American ceremony to bless the bison.

National Wildlife Federation Tribal Lands Project and Nebraska Wildlife Federation representatives also will attend.

The bison cows, calves and two 7-year-old bulls descended from a genetically pure herd raised on a Crawford ranch.